Clencher nut



4, 1956 R. A. THOMPSON 2,759,164

CLENCHER NUT Filed Feb. 17, 1953 INVENTOR. Raymond E. The on 2,759,164 i Patented Aug. 14,1956

CLENCHER NUT Raymond A. Thompson, Milwaukee, -Wis., assignor to McGraw Electric Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1953, Serial No. 337,277 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-246) This invention relates to a clencher nut and in particular to a clencher nut for grounding pieces of hardware that support a conductor.

In dry atmospheres, dust or sand blowing across metal sets up a static charge which tends to produce corona. It is well-known that such ionized atmospheres cause radio and television interference, and tend to materially reduce the insulation level of the supporting structure. It is becoming a widespread practice to remove this static charge by grounding any hardware pieces that support a conductor. This is done by running a grounding wire up a pole and out the arm to the piece of hardware. The present method of holding the wire between two washers on the end of a bolt is crude and unreliable. Since the use of this grounding means is increasing rapidly throughout the country and especially in dry areas, it becomes a vital necessity to provide a better and more dependable means of securing the wires.

The object of this invention is to provide a clencher nut with a retaining action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of bonding wire to bolts that will prevent slipping or loosening of the wires from the bolts.

And still another object is to provide a clencher nut that can be slipped over the end of a bolt singly or in pairs and that has formed up sides slotted and shaped to hold one or more wires.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate this improved bonding device in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of two clencher nuts holding a wire on a bolt end.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a clencher nut.

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a variation of the clencher nut that can be used singly.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the clencher nut of Fig. 4 shown on a bolt taken approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is another side view of the clencher nut of Figs. 4 and 5 taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Like reference figures indicate like parts throughout.

This clencher nut 1 is generally hexagonal and cupshaped. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 it can be seen that the clencher nut 1 has formed side walls 2 at right angles to a bottom 3. Centered in the bottom 3 is an opening 4 with perforations 5 around the outer edge of the opening 4. This combination of the opening 4 and perforations 5 has a gripping action when wedged over or threaded to a bolt 6 of slightly greater diameter than the opening 4.

To provide a means of holding one or two ground wires on either or both sides of the bolt 6, two sets of slots are cut in the side walls 2. Two complementary slots 7 and 7a provide a groove on one side of the bolt 6 and two complementary slots 8 and 8a provide a groove on the opposite side of the bolt 6. These grooves are transverse to a plane coincident with the axis of the nut 1 and bolt 6. One set of slots 7 and 7a can be slightly wider and deeper than the set 8 and 8a so that grounding wires of varying sizes can be accommodated. In both sets the slots are slightly less in width than the diameter of the wire they are to receive so that a gripping action exists between them.

In Fig. 1, I illustrate the method of using these clencher nuts over a bolt end 6 and its accompanying nut 9. The clencher nut 1 is placed bottom first over the bolt 6 and the clamping action of the perforations 5 around the opening 4 hold the clencher nut 1 on the bolt 6. A grounding wire 10 is then thrust into the slots 7 and 7a and a second clencher nut or a standard nut is placed bottom first over the bolt 6 and wedged against the first clencher nut and grounding wire 10. The slots being slightly smaller in width than the diameter of the grounding wire 10 prevent the grounding wire from slipping sidewise in the slots and the second clencher nut wedged over the first clencher nut prevents the grounding wire from slipping or falling out of the slots in that direction.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of my clencher nut. The only difference from the clencher nut of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is in extensions 11 and 12 of the wall between the complementary slots of each set. The extension 11 extends from the wall between slots 13 and 13a and the extension 12 extends from the wall between slots 14 and 14a. These extensions 11 and 12 are curved inwardly through their midsections forming inwardly thrust semicircles 15 and 16 which have a spring action. In Fig. 5, it can be seen that grounding wire 17 had pushed aside the extension 11 while being thrust into the slots 13 and 13a and that the extension 11 has sprung back to its original position thereby holding the grounding wire 17 in its slots 13 and 13a and preventing the grounding wire 17 from falling or slipping outwardly from the clencher nut. In similar manner the grounding wire 18 had pushed aside the extension 12 while being thrust into the slots 14 and 14a and that the extension 12 has sprung back to its original position thereby holding the grounding wire 18 from falling or slipping outwardly from the clencher nut.

These clencher nuts are easy to use. Because of their particular design, it is not necessary to have a variety of sizes. Within reasonable limits a clencher nut can be used on various sized bolts. Its inherent gripping ability makes adjustment or tightening unnecessary. Forcing the clencher nut over the bolt is sufficient guarantee that the clencher nut will not slip off because the perforated opening will clutch into the sides of the bolt. A grounding wire can be inserted in the slots on either side of the bolt or two grounding wires can be inserted, one on each side of the bolt. Since these slots are narrower than the diameter of the grounding wires, the grounding wires wedge into the slots and are held therefore by a gripping action. This gripping action prevents slipping of the wire in a lengthwise direction. The wire is prevented from slipping outwardly by the holding action of either a second clencher nut, or a standard nut or as in the second embodiment by an extension with spring action of the clencher nut itself.

This simple device assures dependable fastening means for attaching grounding wires to bolt ends that may accumulate electrical charges. This protection is especially necessary in those dry regions where dust and sand blowing across metal create static charges tending to produce corona. In those regions, it is advisable for both protective reasons and for better service to ground any hardware that supports a conductor. This clencher nut is simple to install and it eliminates wire slipping dangers.

shank and tangent to a circle common thereto andicorn centric with the axis of said opening, said slots opening at the free edge of the flanges for receiving said conductor wire extending therebetween' with the walls of the slots in the flanges frictionally and graspingly engaging said conductor wire.

2. A clencher nut for clamping a conductor wire; transa verselyrelative to a threaded shank at one side thereof and comprising amarginally flanged base structure defining; an opening for threadingly receiving said shank, the mar-. ginal flanges of said structure having peripherally spaced; parallel slots tangent to a circle common thereto and concentric with the axis of said opening, saidslots opening at the free edge of the flanges'for receiving said com ductor wire extending therebetween with the walls of the slots, in the, flanges frictionally and graspingly engaging said conductor wire and said marginal flanges having a resilient portion intermediate said slots extending outwardly from said flanges with its free end defining a reverse curve to overlie a conductor wire and adapted to resiliently retain said wire in the flange slots.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 876,515 Barnes= Ian. 14, 1908 1,161,317 Kielland Nov. 23, 1915 1,192,034; Brisacher July 25, 1916 1,233,197 Cuthbert July 10, 1917 2,055,130 Hdtchkin- Sept. 22, 1936 2,377,168 Miller May 29, 1945 2,666,910 Hammerly Jan. 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 872,877 France Mar. 2, 1942 242,434 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1946 

